News Broadcasting
‘Sansani’ celebrates one year of investigative reporting
MUMBAI: Sansani, the investigative news bulletin celebrates a hugely successful year since it first launched in November 2004. The programme has redefined prime time news watching in India more than any other programme in the news genre.
Star News launched the first of it’s kind daily investigative news bulletin, which was not just about crime but addressed the people’s concerns about safety and security. With this, the channel has created a Sansani on the ratings chart, leaving the conventional crime shows far behind by capturing a whopping 27 per cent market share since launch, putting it right at the top as compared to other crime programmes.
The one-year special episode, which will air on 23 November features as a one-hour special, comprising highlights of Sansani since it’s launch. This special also features interviews of people who have benefited from the efforts of the show.
Star News CEO Udya Shankar says, “Sansani was an attempt to promote the safety concerns of the common people by involving the viewer in uncovering the gory face of crime and expose criminals of every hue in society, some petty, others high brow and part of the establishment. As it completes one year of an amazing viewer response, the fact that the viewer has given a huge thumbs up to Sansani’s reformist agenda is testimony to the programme’s success in contributing to a safer neighbourhood. Moving into the second year in a daily avatar, we will aim to live up to the people’s increasing expectations of us in representing their concerns for a better and safer society.”
The overwhelming viewer endorsement and interactivity with Sansani gets amply reflected in the TAM ratings. Sansani gets the thumbs up with a 28 per cent average market share post launch, which is clearly ahead of the competition by a distance. Zee News’ Crime Reporter with a 23 per cent market share and Aaj Tak’s Vardaat at 21 per cent come a distant second and third respectively, while NDTV India’s Khabar India trails significantly in fourth position with a 14 per cent market share over a near one year period. (Source: TAM; TG: CS 15+; Market: Hindi Speaking Markets; Period: 22 November ’04 – 12 November ’05; average market share since launch), informs the official release.
News Broadcasting
Network18 Q4 revenue grows 9.7 per cent, EBITDA at Rs 30 crore
PAT improves to Rs 306.6 crore, margins steady amid cost pressures.
MUMBAI: Not all news is breaking, some of it is quietly improving. Network18 Media & Investments Limited appears to be doing just that, tightening losses and stabilising margins even as costs continue to weigh on the business. For FY26, the company reported revenue from operations of Rs 1,955.1 crore, up from Rs 1,896.2 crore in FY25, signalling modest top-line growth in a challenging media environment. Total income stood at Rs 1,978.2 crore, compared to Rs 1,913 crore a year earlier.
Profit after tax came in at Rs 306.6 crore for the year, a sharp turnaround from Rs 3,225.4 crore in FY25, largely reflecting the absence of large exceptional items that had inflated the previous year’s numbers. On a more comparable basis, the company’s operating performance showed signs of gradual stabilisation.
However, the quarterly picture remained under pressure. For the March quarter, Network18 reported a loss of Rs 53.1 crore, narrower than the Rs 98.1 crore loss in the same period last year, but still indicative of ongoing cost challenges.
Expenses continued to track high. Total expenses for FY26 stood at Rs 2,235.7 crore, up from Rs 2,197.8 crore in FY25. Key cost heads included operational expenses of Rs 765.9 crore, employee benefits of Rs 475.9 crore, and marketing, distribution and promotional spends of Rs 427.1 crore, underlining the continued investment required to sustain reach and engagement.
At an operating level, margins remained under strain. Operating margin stood at 2.33 per cent for FY26, marginally higher than 1.77 per cent in FY25, while net profit margin remained negative at -13.02 per cent, though improved from -14.89 per cent.
On the balance sheet, total assets rose to Rs 8,957.6 crore as of 31 March 2026, from Rs 8,317.5 crore a year earlier. Equity strengthened to Rs 4,958.7 crore, while borrowings increased to Rs 3,112.8 crore, reflecting a higher reliance on debt to support operations.
Cash flows told a mixed story. While financing activities generated Rs 83.9 crore, operating cash flow remained negative at Rs -24 crore, highlighting ongoing pressure on core cash generation. Cash and cash equivalents, however, improved to Rs 33.9 crore from Rs 1.8 crore.
The numbers point to a company in transition growing revenues, trimming losses, but still grappling with structural cost pressures. In a sector where scale often comes at a price, Network18 seems to be inching towards balance, one quarter at a time.
